<p>First of all, congrats on your score! Second, don’t listen to all the people who bashed you just because you asked a question. College admissions is a scary process for all of us, and despite all the achievements the average CC student has it’s okay to ask if it’s enough. After all, we are a relatively self-conscious bunch (there’s a reason we have hundreds of thousands of chance threads). That said, I believe you are perfectly fine not taking the SAT, it would really just be a waste of time and money at this point. I’m in pretty much the same boat you are and I decided not to take my SATI or II again even though I probably could improve a little, because my ACT was better and the SATII scores were good enough that they wouldn’t make or break any of my acceptances, as is with you. Enjoy your summer and when the time comes, write some killer essays and you should be fine! Don’t forget to enjoy your senior year too. After all, we only have this last year of high school left, and soon it’ll be gone.</p>
<p>My understanding based on Michelle Hernandez’s book and from blogs by the MIT admissions office is that your scores are entered into a computer and some numerical index is calculated and binned. They expected to admit a certain fraction of students from each bin. The higher bins have a higher chance and the lower bins have a lower chance. Then the readers will have access to the whole file and determine who in each bin will be admitted. </p>
<p>College Confidential has an Academic Index Calculator. For schools like Yale that don’t require subject tests if you submit the ACT, put 800 for the SAT and SAT II’s and use your grades and/or class rank to calculate your Academic Index. For schools like MIT or Harvard which require SAT IIs, just put 800 in for your SAT sections and do the same. It’s just an approximation but it gives you the basic idea. </p>
<p>Suppose you get into one of the highest academic bins where 80% of the people get in. They will look for the 20% least interesting people and reject them. If you can’t think of anything better to do than studying for and taking a standardized test that you don’t need, you certainly qualify to be in that 20% that gets rejected. That’s just my opinion, which you asked for by making this thread. The SAT will not change your bin. </p>
<p>You can add to your EC list. They may not be as strong as things you have done for years, but you could set up a club or charity. Do something related to your major choice…volunteer to assist a professional in that field.</p>
<p>The advice is mostly the same we would (or have) give(n) our own kids. Even with a 2200 on the SAT it was probably a waste of time to take the ACT, though I am in favor of taking each test once.</p>
<p>No.</p>
<p>@BlueOreos There is a difference! Working hard is good! But, OP ALREADY GOT A 36! Why do you want to go to the school of your dreams? Because you woke up one day and thought you were smart (not that you aren’t btw) and you or your parents decided by some grand gesture or miracle of thought that you must go to Harvard (or insert school of “your dreams”)? The truth is most students would fare just as well at a state college, however many invent the need to go to a top-tier school as something they NEED. Lately I’ve realized that the only need is the need for a prestigious name to add to a resume. While I’m sure you’ll tell me something along the lines of “You don’t know me I love that school I worked so hard…”, I’m not denying your hard work. I’m simply saying that if you have a 36 ACT and you take the SAT I again, it’s gonna be clear to colleges you’re just a machine that takes tests. Colleges don’t want machines they want thinkers. People who can create something and offer thought not just fill in a bubble. Anyway, take it as you will. Best of luck at college of your choice still. While I think your motives for going to a certain school may be questionable, I wish you success in admissions :).</p>
<p>Definitely not. Think about how to focus your energy on your passions and not on test scores. Even an SAT of 2400 wouldn’t budge your chances of getting into a school now - at this point it’ll be about the rest of your application/ </p>
<p>If you really really want to, you can take the SAT for fun without prepping much for it (<5 hours) since I know how fun it might seem to have a high SAT score. But don’t obsess about not getting a perfect score.</p>
<p>I don’t want to hijack this thread, but I actually have a similar question to OP. I took my ACT last April and got a 35. I have never taken the SAT, only the one ACT. Should I take SAT anyway, or will the ACT alone suffice?</p>
<p>@ivyhopes12 do you need to certify your PSAT score for NMF? If so then take the SAT. Otherwise don’t bother.</p>
<p>To the OP, take some SAT Subject tests instead, as some of the selective schools require them.
Congrats on your perfect ACT.</p>
<p>Good tip: let it go, let it go, turn away and slam the door. :)</p>